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Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) — Muraenidae

Buro moray

Gymnothorax buroensis
Family: Muraenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Muraenidae that grows up to 39 cm.

Length
38.7 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific; shallow lagoon and seaward reefs.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The vagrant moray is a moray eel (Muraenidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an elongate, eel-like body with a paler, net-like (lattice) pattern. It inhabits shallow lagoon and seaward reefs, primarily in the surge zone, where by day it shelters among rocks and coral. At night it hunts small fishes and crustaceans. Morays are not aggressive, but the sharp teeth can give a nasty bite if handled.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Buro moray?

The Buro moray has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Reef moray with a net-/lattice-like pattern (latticetail) of the surf zone; nocturnal, sharp teeth.

Where does the Buro moray live?

The Buro moray lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific; shallow lagoon and seaward reefs.

How big does the Buro moray get?

The Buro moray grows to a maximum of about 39 cm.

Is the Buro moray dangerous to humans?

No, the Buro moray is harmless to humans. Not venomous, but the sharp teeth can give a nasty bite; handle a caught specimen with care and keep fingers away from the mouth. Clean any bite wound and seek medical care if it becomes infected.

Is the Buro moray edible?

The Buro moray is rarely eaten.

More photos

Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) — Muraenidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) — Muraenidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) — Muraenidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) James Lefebvre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Buro moray (Gymnothorax buroensis) — Muraenidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Ruben Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Buro moray verified
Scientific name
Gymnothorax buroensis
Family
Muraenidae
Other names
Buro moray; Buru moray eel; Latticetail moray; Vagrant moray; Lattice-tail moray verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
38.7 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-Pacific; shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Reef moray with a net-/lattice-like pattern (latticetail) of the surf zone; nocturnal, sharp teeth. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
Not venomous, but the sharp teeth can give a nasty bite; handle a caught specimen with care and keep fingers away from the mouth. Clean any bite wound and seek medical care if it becomes infected. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gymnothorax

More from the family Muraenidae

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